Benthic Sediment Profile Imaging
Data Specifications
- Area of Coverage: Varies by project. Normally range from mean high water to the limit of state jurisdictional waters (usually three miles). Project extents range from individual bay systems to entire state coastlines in Maine, New York, Virginia, and Florida.
- Date(s) Available: Vary by location, ranging from 1995 to 2004
- Format: ESRI point shapefile
- Resolution: Approximately 0.5 meters planar extent, depth is variable
- Minimal Mapping Unit: 0.5 meters
- Accuracy: 100 percent for observed points
Overview
SPI image stations, Hudson River, New York
Sediment Profile Imaging (SPI) data developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal Services Center record the nearshore sediment to the depth of camera penetration, as well as the physical, chemical, geological, and biological features of the epibenthos (organisms living on the sea floor).
Descriptive attributes of sediment type and character, as well as biological taxa—groups of organisms judged to belong to discrete units—are documented for each sample. SPI data are useful for quick assessment of bottom character, especially the interface between sediment and water, the presence of methane, the stage of biological succession, and other characteristics.